The pilot of the Saudia jet was forced to turn around after the mum left her baby at the airport, according to reports

Audio appears to capture the pilot asking air traffic controllers for permission to return to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

In the clip, which has gone viral on social media and has been widely reported, the pilot is heard asking air traffic control staff: "May God be with us. Can we come back or what?"

After noting the flight number - SV832 - the operator asks a colleague what protocol they should follow, if one even exists.

The pilot adds: “This flight is requesting to come back…a passenger forgot her baby in the waiting area, the poor thing,”

When air traffic control asked the pilot to confirm the story, he replied: “We told you, a passenger left her baby in the terminal and refuses to continue the flight.”

This flight is requesting to come back…a passenger forgot her baby in the waiting area, the poor thing

Pilot

The operator then gave them permission to return to King Abdul Aziz International Airport.

He said: “Okay, head back to the gate. This is totally a new one for us!”

The incident is understood to have taken place on Saturday evening.

Flight radar websites record a delay of the 54 minute to the usually punctual flight but do not say whether it had to turn around in mid air or whether the plane was preparing for take-off when the apparent decision to return to the terminal was made.

The circumstances under which the mum left her baby at the terminal are also unclear.

Saudi Twitter user Fahad M. Al Barrak, who shared the original audio of the incident claimed the mother hadn't simply left her baby at the terminal by itself.

He instead claims the baby had been left with its sister who had boarded the wrong bus at the terminal and had missed the flight.

When the mother realised the pair hadn't made the flight, she insisted the plane turn round, Mr Al Barrak claimed.

Okay, head back to the gate. This is totally a new one for us

Air traffic controller

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Tens of thousands of people have now watched the video claiming to feature the air traffic control audio.

Sun Online has contacted Saudia for comment.

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